Apple MacBook 2017 review - Dazzling design and extra power comes at a price

4 / 5 stars
Apple MacBook 2017

APPLE'S new MacBook is now on sale and offers the ultimate portable laptop experience without compromising on power. However, with its high price, is it really worth your money? Here's Express.co.uk's full review.

By David Snelling, Technology Editor

Apple MacBook 2017 reviewEXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Apple MacBook 2017 review

PROS • Incredible design that offers ultimate portability • Improved keyboard • Upgraded processor now supplies more power • Good battery life

CONS • Very expensive • One port still may frustrate • No touch screen

Apple’s stunning MacBook might be a few years old but, despite its age, the space-aged laptop still looks like it’s arrived from the future.

This ultimate portable PC packs powerful performance in a device that’s not much thicker than a beer mat and this svelte design makes it one of the most appealing MacBooks Apple has ever made.

Now this super-slim computer has had a refresh with faster performance and improved design.

However, with a starting of price of over £1,200 is the new MacBook really worth your money?

Express.co.uk has been putting this latest Apple laptop through its paces and here’s our full review.

It’s no surprise that Apple hasn’t tinkered too much with the design of its latest MacBook.

When it first launched in 2015, the MacBook quickly became one of the most desirable laptops Apple had created and it certainly hasn’t lost any of its charm.

From the outside nothing has changed on the 2017 model and that’s no bad thing as the MacBook is still, without doubt, one of the best looking laptops money can buy.

Its sleek aluminium shell oozes class and its lightweight design means you’ll hardly notice when it’s tucked inside your bag.

Despite its thin design, the MacBook still feels incredibly sturdy on your lap with no wobble as you punch away on the keys.

Although there’s no obvious changes to its looks, Apple has included an all-new keyboard on its latest MacBook.

Apple MacBook 2017 reviewEXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Apple MacBook 2017 review

These new keys are the only dramatic change to the MacBook’s exterior and it’s a huge improvement over the original laptop.

This second-generation butterfly keyboard feels precise and is certainly more enjoyable to use, although it does take a little getting used to if you’re moving from an older MacBook Air or Pro.

Below this updated keyboard is Apple’s clever Force Touch trackpad which makes all of the Windows competition feel like they are stuck firmly in the past.

With no moving parts the capacitive glass surface sends a subtle haptic buzz through the trackpad, which feels almost indistinguishable from a traditional click.

This clever technology means you can tap anywhere on the trackpad and get the same experience plus the Force Touch trackpad also lets you Force click by pressing on the trackpad and then applying more pressure.

Apple MacBook 2017 reviewEXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

The new MacBook includes an update butterfly keyboard

Along with the trackpad the new MacBook also keeps its Retina Display which continues to offer a pin-sharp viewing experience which is hard to fault.

Content looks crisp and packed with colour and the 12-inch display offers just enough space to work and play.

However, it is a shame that Apple wasn't able to push the screen further to the edges as the large bezels do detract from what is otherwise a faultless design.

Although things don’t look hugely different from the outside there is one major difference tucked under the hood of the new MacBook.

Powering this machine is the latest Kaby Lake processor which really helps improve the whole MacBook experience. 

We had no problems editing some basic videos and the MacBook powered through tasks in Photoshop with image retouching and creation performed without a stutter.

Apple MacBook 2017 reviewEXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

The MacBook offers the ultimate portable experience

Apple MacBook 2017 reviewEXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Sadly Apple still includes one port which will frustrate some users

It’s worth noting that, even with these improvements, the MacBook isn’t aimed at the power user and, if you’re considering producing the next Hollywood blockbuster from your laptop, you’re still best sticking with the MacBook Pro range.

That said, this portable PC is still pretty powerful and most average users shouldn’t find it struggling with any general tasks.

Battery life is also impressive with it lasting for around 10 hours without needing a refill.

Charging is performed via the one USB-C port which is both a positive and negative feature.

USB-C is fast becoming the preferred way to charge and transfer data but some users may still find the idea of needing an adaptor to plug in standard USB devices frustrating.

The MacBook still only includes one USB-C port which also means you can’t charge it and plug in other devices, such as an iPhone, at the same time.

This was a criticism we made back in 2015 and it’s a shame Apple hasn’t been able to squeeze a second port into its ultra-thin case.

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That said, with Apple’s Airdrop and other services such as Dropbox offering a seamless wireless data transfer experience you may find it’s rare that you’ll want to plug in a vast array of external devices.

Finally, we have to mention the price and this is possibly where we have the biggest issue with the MacBook.

There’s no doubting that this is an incredible piece of kit but it lands on your lap with a starting price of £1,249 - that’s the same price as the basic, but more powerful, MacBook Pro.

Apple MacBook 2017 reviewPH

VERDICT

We’ve always been a huge fan of the MacBook and this update improves the experience even further.

The keyboard is hugely improved and the extra processing power means the MacBook will cope with pretty much anything that’s thrown at it.

Battery life is still impressive, the trackpad is superb and the Retina display continues to dazzle.

It’s a shame Apple hasn’t been able to increase the screen size slightly by reducing the bezels but this is a small irritation in what is otherwise a faultless design.

The MacBook is a stunning piece of technology but owning one does come at a very high price.

The MacBook starts at £1,249 which is now the same price as the entry-level MacBook Pro and we can’t help thinking that it's simply too steep.

If you want the ultimate portable PC you really won’t find anything better than this latest MacBook, you’ll just need to spend big to own one.

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